News

For information on DRW news, events, or press releases, please contact:
email media@drwi.org.

For information on DRW action alerts, public policy, or voting efforts, please contact:
Lisa Hassenstab at 608-308-2639 or lisah@drwi.org.

The 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Photo of President George H.W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, with prominent disability rights advocates around him. The text says: On this day: The landmark civil rights legislation, the American with Disabilities Act, became law on July 26, 1995.
Disability Rights Wisconsin is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on its 35th Anniversary! The act was passed and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. 35 years later on the same day, we celebrate this important civil rights law and what it means for people with disabilities throughout the United States. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of…
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Now Hiring: Staff Attorney, FCIOP and SSI-MC, Milwaukee

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Disability Rights Wisconsin is now hiring for a Staff Attorney for our Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman Program and SSI-MC External Advocacy Project, based out of Milwaukee. SSI-MC Staff Attorney About the Attorney Position As part of the Supplemental Security Income Managed Care External Advocacy Project (SSI-MC EAP), the Staff Attorney supports and gives legal guidance to advocates. Their responsibilities include: overseeing intake and cases. working with other attorneys to discuss intake, cases, case strategy,…
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Happy Disability Pride Month 2025!

Redesigned Disability Pride Flag by Anne Magill, which has muted but bright colors in a diagonal band from top left to bottom right.
About Disability Pride Month In July, we celebrate the history of the disability community in the United States. This month is important because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law on July 26, 1990. It prohibited discrimination based on disabilities. We honor all activism and advocacy that people with disabilities and their allies undertook to get here. People with disabilities belong in our communities! They are one of the largest minority populations in the…
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WI BPDD: Conversation Cafes 2025

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About the Listening Sessions The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) wants to hear from you about the most important issues affecting people with disabilities in Wisconsin. Your comments will guide their next 5-year state plan. Learn more about the sessions: English flyer El folleto en español Listening Sessions July 17, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. — Register for July 17 here. August 7, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. — Register for August 7 here….
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Wisconsin Department of Corrections: July 2025 Friends and Family Forum

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About the Forum The Department of Corrections is hosting a forum on July 28 for friends and family of people who are currently incarcerated or on active community supervision. At the forum, attendees can ask questions and give feedback on Wisconsin’s corrections policy. Location: In-person in Wausau, WI Date and Time: July 28, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Learn more about the forum here. Forum Registration Registration is required. Register here to attend…
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Major Win for Students with Disabilities in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools Case

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On June 12, 2025, the United States Supreme Court rejected an increased standard for school-aged children asserting their rights under federal disability rights laws. Disability rights laws, like the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, protect students from discrimination based on disability. In its June 12 decision, the Supreme Court did not accept the 8th Circuit’s increased standard requiring schoolchildren to show that school officials acted with bad…
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Now Hiring: Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman, Statewide and Northeast Wisconsin

Graphic for Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman job posting. The background is a photo of a collection of multicolored chess pawn pieces arranged in circles.
Disability Rights Wisconsin is now hiring for two Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman positions. Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman About the Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman Position The Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman works with Family Care, Partnership, and IRIS enrollees in Wisconsin. The responsibilities of this positions are: collecting information about Family Care and IRIS cases. investigating complaints. supporting enrollees in meetings, appeals, hearings, and self-advocacy. giving information, guidance, and referrals. giving outreach and…
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DRW in the News: Proposed WI Bill Could Expand Remote Language Interpretation in Court

Graphic for In the News: New Wisconsin bill could expand the role of remote language interpretation in court. The background photo is of the scales of justice on a table with a gavel and paperwork.
A new bill that would change remote language interpretation in courts has passed the Wisconsin Senate. The bill would let interpreters appear by telephone or videoconference in more types of legal proceedings, including trials. Right now, interpreters must appear in person for trials. The process to get an in-person interpreter can take a lot of time. This can be because of staffing shortages or if the clients need interpretation in a less-common language. Disability Rights…
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Disability Rights Wisconsin Spotlighted in Madison Locally Sourced

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Thank you so much to Madison Locally Sourced for spotlighting Disability Rights Wisconsin in their most recent issue! The article talks about who we are and the importance of our work. Two of our Board of Directors members feature in the article! Read about us in Madison Locally Sourced’s current issue (May-June 2025).
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Now Hiring: Systems Administrator and Information Security Analyst

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Disability Rights Wisconsin is now hiring for two positions within our IT team: Systems Administrator and Information Security Analyst. Systems Administrator About This Position The Systems Administrator is a key player within our IT team and maintains Disability Rights Wisconsin’s cloud-based IT systems and equipment. They are responsible for: supporting our staff across three offices and remotely. managing helpdesk operations and inventory tracking. managing systems, endpoint, and network management. planning and supporting IT projects and…
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